Military leaders from across the globe, including top 25 senior officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Association of Reservists and Reservist Administrators of the Philippines (ARRAPI) took part in the recent 147th National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) General Assembly and Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Major General Gerold Gagan, who headed the AFP delegation, was elated with the holding of the 147th NGAUS General Assembly, saying: “Our participation in the 147th NGAUS General Assembly was a resounding success.”
“We reaffirmed our strong partnership with the Guam and Hawaii National Guards, strengthening defense cooperation, disaster response, and modernization efforts. This mission has deepened our ties with the U.S. National Guard and renewed our commitment to building a stronger AFP alongside our allies.”
Other members of the AFP delegation were Major General Arvin Lagamon, with Major General Doroteo Jalandoni (Navrescom), Brigadier General Geminic Ramirez (AFRESCOM), and Brigadier General Onorlie Brilantes (AFRC) also in attendance.
Col. Mikee Romero, chairman of ARRAPI, readily agreed, adding: “It strengthens the cooperation between Filipino reservists and the U.S. National Guard. We learned a lot from the assembly especially about disaster response, and national resilience.”
Other ARRAPI officials who join the former lawmaker were association president Lt. Col. Vladimir Mata and Board of Trustees members Lt. Col. Peter Negrido and Lt. Col. Meliton Agpaoa.
Romero and Mat also had the chance to meet with NGAUS chairman Major General Paul Rodgers of Michigan where they discussed cooperation under the State Partnership Program (SPP) with the Guam and Hawaii National Guards.
The mission likewise underscored the strong defense and security cooperation between the two nations, while the conference provided a venue to strengthen ties, exchange expertise, and foster collaboration on defense modernization, disaster response, and national resilience — key priorities for both the AFP and the U.S. National Guard.
